Message from the District Governor | |
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Every month I look forward to writing a few words that deliver a message of
leadership, guidance, inspiration, and especially, motivation.
I use these messages while visiting clubs and meeting with Rotarians and Rotaractors all over the district from Blanding to Logan, Vernal to Tooele and all in between and while attending service projects, activities, socials and inductions,
Martha and I had the pleasure to enjoy time and food with many hours of driving and walking in between. We enjoyed the hospitality of many, and most importantly, we heard from you about your perception of Rotary. We were inspired by the vast number of projects the clubs do throughout the state and beyond. Especially comes to mind - the giving from Rotarians to our Rotary Foundation and the funding to our projects.
I would love to hear from as many of you who would like to send a line to: josevelasco5420@gmail.com I will always be available to anyone who would like to stay in contact.
Martha, Stephanie and I would like to thank all of you who shared the moments and the efforts as well as the work to make this year what in my opinion was a Great Year. And now, we invite all of you to provide and double your efforts to support our next Governor John Redd, his wife Nicole, and the rest of their family to Create Hope in the World.
It has been a privilege to serve with each of you!
Jose Velasco
Utah Rotary District Governor 2022-2023
josevelasco5420@gmail.com
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The Power of One!
District Governor 2023 - 2024 John Redd
As the new Rotary year approaches, Governor John Redd and his family are getting ready to empower Rotarians across our district and create impactful accomplishments.
The Fundamentals of the Power of One
John is bringing Rotarians a challenge to make a difference by asking them to:
- Bring One new member to their clubs!
- Increase your Foundation giving by One dollar per capita above the best of the last seven years!
- Engage One new member to a District level event!
Under the inspiration of International President Elect Gordon McInally from the Rotary Club of South Queensferry West Lothian, Scotland, Governor John will focus on the 2023 2024 Rotary year theme, Create Hope in the World.
We know it will be a very successful Rotary Year 2023 – 2024
Governor John Redd - We look forward to your leadership as we all create hope in the world!
Jose Velasco
Utah Rotary District Governor 2022-2023
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Induction Ceremony for John Redd Is Saturday, June 10 @ Noon
You are invited to the Induction Ceremony for Governor John Redd and the 2023-2024 Rotary Club Presidents.
Last year, the event was sold out and those attending raved about the celebration. Eighty-one percent of those present said the event was AWESOME and another 15.5% said the event was GREAT. The number one comment offered by attendees? Get more people to the event so they can see what Rotary is really like!
DATE: Saturday, June 10, 2023
TIME: Noon
PLACE: Larry Miller Megaplex Complex, Jordan Common, 9334 State Street, Sandy, Utah 84070
COST: $60 per person
Please click HERE register today! You will be glad you did.
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Success! Cedar City, West Jordan, & Park City Twilight Partner with Ecuador, Mexico, and Argentine Clubs | |
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Cedar City Turns on the Electricity
The Cedar City Rotary Club was thrilled to partner with the Rotary Club of Bahía de Caráquez in Ecuador to provide electricity to the Jaime Pólit Fiscal School, after a massive power surge damaged their electrical system. There was no government funding for repairs, so Cedar City wired the funds to the Rotary Club of Bahía de Caráquez and began receiving photos and updates on the repairs shortly after. The project has since been completed, and we feel so grateful that we could help support the educational facilities, and in turn the education, of the students at Jaime Pólit Fiscal School.
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West Jordan Rotary Combats Rickettsia
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a killer. That’s why the West Jordan Rotary Club answered the call from the Puerto Peñasco Rotary Club in Mexico to fund the purchase of backpack sprayers. Combating rickettsia (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) is a comprehensive program. Besides backpacks, other measures are medicated baths at spay & neuter clinics, flea & tick medicine applied to animals, and educational campaigns in schools led by the Puerto Penasco Health Center. Last year deaths from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever averaged one a month. This year the number has dropped to only one so far.
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Park City Twilight Supports Mothers & Babies
The Park City Twilight Rotary Club partnered with the Belgrano Rotary Club of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to help provide a refrigerator, infant balance and fortified milk to the Conin Foundation in Argentina. Conin is a well-established organization that works with mothers and babies to combat malnutrition in very poor communities. They promote breastfeeding as the ideal nutrition for infants, but in some cases, the formula is necessary. They have documented research showing improvement in malnutrition scores for infants and small children. The Argentina club did all the leg work for this project, all we had to do was provide some much needed funds to help it come to fruition.
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Club Presidents-Elect - Do you want to do a small international project next year? Three of the 8 projects offered by Jerry Summerhays, District International Service Chair, are still available for your club to do. Contact Jerry for more information, SummerhaysGS@gmail.com | |
News from Around the District | |
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Craig Dearing Receives
Key to the City of West Jordan
In March of 2023, one of the founding members of the West Jordan Rotary Club was awarded the key to the City of West Jordan by Mayor Dirk Burton. Craig Dearing served as the CEO of the West Jordan Chamber of Commerce for 28 years. During his tenure, he weathered the economic challenges of the 80s, the building boom of the 90s, and the Great Recession, helping countless local businesses develop and thrive within the WJ community, keeping taxes low.
Craig served on numerous committees, rallying volunteers to move city events and projects forward. The key represents the many doors that Craig Dearing has opened for his community. You may have heard the saying -“Greater is the man that can do the work of 10.” When you think of Craig Dearing, you think, “Greater is the man that can get 10 to do the work with him.”
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Buy Colombian Coffee to Support Peace
For a limited time, the District 5420 Peace Committee is partnering with Northern
Columbia’s District 4271 to raise money for our Global Grant partnership. We are
creating more peaceful schools in 19 communities by teaching Colombian students
and teachers skills that enable them to coexist more peacefully.
This Coffee is Great for Gifts! Order Online Now
Grial - Fruity fragrance 340g bag $25
Montie - Dark, nutty chocolate fragrance 340 g bag $25
Salento Verde - Dark roast 250g bag $20
Salento Rojo - 250g bag $20
Los Frailes - Vanilla, almond, chocolate fragrance 250g bag $20
We accept Venmo, credit cards and cold hard cash!
Click here for credit card purchases.
INCLUDE YOUR ROTARY CLUB AND PHONE NUMBER IN NOTES AT CHECKOUT SO WE CAN GET YOUR COFFEE TO YOU
All proceeds benefit the Positive Peace Training Global Grant
Kris Swanson
District Peace Committee Chair
(Her website is donating the Coffee Sale webpage)
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Hurricane Valley to Open their
All-Abilities Playground June 10
The ribbon cutting for Hurricane Valley Rotary’s All-Abilities Playground in Hurricane will happen on Saturday, June 10. The playground is designed for special needs children and was certified by Let Kids Play!, a group that helps communities create new accessible playgrounds.
Kids of all ages and abilities can use the 7,500 square foot area which is located adjacent to existing play equipment and a big splash pad. The club and the City of Hurricane have partnered on the $600,000 project, with the city providing a third of the funding and taking on maintenance going forward. It is the biggest project Hurricane Valley has undertaken in its 25-year history. Additional funds are needed, and you can help by donating at hurricanevalleyrotary.org.
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Rotary RAW Bicycle Race Is June 17th
The RotaryRAW is a Road Respect Charity Bike Tour in Northern Utah on Saturday, June 17, 2023 to bring awareness to the Zero Fatalities program, help keep cyclists safe, and raise money to support the Utah Rotary Foundation's Native American Initiative with the objective of providing clean water and electricity to 11 tribes in Utah. There are two ride options on the registration page:
Summer Picnic Ride: Get out with your friends and ride a bike on Saturday, June 17. Start your ride from your home or other group starting points and allow enough time to arrive at the Cache Valley Gardeners Market at 199 North Main Street between the hours of 11am and 1pm to enjoy our Welcome Back Summer Picnic! Select Summer Picnic Ride for this option.
65 Mile Supported Ride: For those who wish to ride our supported 65 mile "Ride Around the Wellsvilles," select this option on your registration form. FREE lunch and Road Respect shirts will be provided to those who register for either option. To participate in the supported 65 mile route, see the COURSE MAP and meet at 129 North Main, The Sportsman. Allow enough time for you to complete the 65 mile ride and return back between 11am and 1pm.
What you will receive for your $35 donation in support of this charity bike tour: Lunch, available 11 am to 1 pm (Gardeners Market food trucks), Road Respect Shirt (Fitted female and male designer shirts), Supported Course, Utah Highway Patrol safety vehicles.
Past District Governor
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Governor Jose Velasco Meets with
the President of the United Nations General Assembly
On May 15th, 2023, District Rotary Governor Jose Velasco, District Rotary Governor - Elect John Redd, and Past District Governor Dean Jackson met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, His Excellency, Mr. Csaba Korosi at Utah Valley University. Orem-Lindon Rotarians led by Past President Dean Robinson were also present at the meeting.
This was an opportunity for them to report to the distinguished guest about the Rotary District 5420 contribution to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals affiliated to the seven priorities of the Rotary International and three targets responsible for sustainable mountain development.
They also highlighted Utah Valley University students involvement with the United Nations. Tristin Juarez-Smith and McKay Brooks, President and Vice-President of the UVU Rotaract, reported to Mr. Korosi how 26 Rotaractors advocated for mountain communities through a student engaged learning model at the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women during March 6-8, 2023.
The student engaged learning model encourages students to work collaboratively to gain real-world experience in their fields of study while receiving mentorship from faculty. Specially designed poster included major activities of Rotaractors both at the United Nations, and when they were involved in service projects with partnering with them Orem-Lindon Rotary club, by selling oranges to raise funds, planting trees, delivering coats to needy students at elementary schools in Orem and Lindon.
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Report Your Club Service Impact by July 10
The 6th annual Service Impact Report, District 5420’s “great idea” originated by Past District Governor Bev Christy, will once again showcase your club’s “service above self” projects and activities in RY2022-23.
Clubs from Logan to Moab, St. George to Park City and everywhere in between will then have this powerful public image tool - when we all share the online link with neighbors, friends, co-workers and others - to increase awareness, membership, foundation giving and Rotary’s public image.
The deadline for submitting your club data is July 10, 2023.
If you need help measuring and reporting your club’s impact, please email District Public Image Chair Linda Sappington or call or text to 435-669-8020.
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Rotary Grants Brings Light & Hope to the World
Grant Reports Due June 15
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Three weeks ago, I was in the Highlands of Guatemala. The morning sun was glorious! It brought light and hope to a challenging world. Similarly, the school I was visiting, created and supported by Rotarian, brings light and hope to students that would never have the advantages that Rotary has given to them.
A week ago, I attended a Rotary meeting in Nice, France. I understood two words! Rotary and Polio. Then a club member translated for me. They were discussing their commitment to the Rotary Foundation and their upcoming 100-year celebration as a Rotary club in Nice.
It is exciting to be a part of a worldwide organization whose purpose is to “do good in the world.” The Rotary Foundation is the engine that helps make these changes. You can be assured that your donations go to create a world of additional light and hope. Donate today!
June 15th is the deadline to get your District Grant reports in. NOTE- July 1 is the date to submit new District Grant requests. Applications and report forms can be found at Utahrotary.org. Click on Foundation and then District Grants. Thank you for your commitment to ROTARY!
Bruce Powell
Utah Rotary District Foundation Chair
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The Polio Countdown Clock is Still Ticking
RI President-elect R. Gordon McInally reminds us, "Only about 1 in every 12 Rotarians worldwide – and fewer than 1 in 5 clubs – are donating each year to RI’s polio eradication efforts."
You can change those statistics when you join the Polio Plus Society, an easy and affordable way to support RI’s most important “service above self” project.
For just $8.33 a month – the cost of a movie ticket, a latte at Starbucks or two gallons of gas - you can become a “polio warrior” joining the ranks of those fighting to eradicate only the 2nd human disease in world history (after smallpox).
The Polio Countdown Clock is holding firm at 31 cases in the entire world to date in 2023. But the clock is still ticking, so don’t wait another day to start saving lives and limbs from this dreadful virus. To sign up TODAY, see your club Foundation Chair or email Rachael Palmer at rachaelpalmer73@gmail.com.
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Get ideas, support other clubs! Send your service projects & fundraisers to
Newsletter Editor Lola Beatlebrox for this monthly section of the newsletter.
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April 29, 2023 was the opening day of the baseball games for the Field of Dreams. West Jordan Rotary had the pleasure of grilling hot dogs and providing them along with chips and water to the players, families, and guests, all for free. Our wonderful Mayor, Dirk Burton was our grill master. A great day for baseball in West Jordan! | |  |
In May, St. George Rotary's Service above Self included planting 121 trees at Snow, Worthen, and Sandtown Parks and celebrating Latin Appreciation Day (since Cinco de Mayo fell during District Conference). We also posted 2,100+ American flags on Memorial Day weekend honoring veterans interred in local cemeteries. Our biggest service project involved our first trip back to Guatemala in three years with 21 Rotarians and friends to build more cinderblock stoves in Mayan villages bringing our 15-year total to nearly 3200 stoves! This month we also accomplished the last of 13 goals to qualify for the Rotary Citation. | | |
In May, members of the Cedar City Rotary Club attended District Conference, held an annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, collected applications for student scholarships for high school seniors planning to attend Southern Utah University, made the final food pantry distribution of the school year at Fiddlers Elementary, cleaned the cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day, had a club BBQ social, and enjoyed an excellent program at a meeting honoring those from the area who died in WWII. It was a busy month, but Rotarians accomplished so much in service! | | |
Bountiful Rotary hosted its "Coats for Kids" Car Show Kickoff luncheon on May 25th. We had Mayor Cushing who started the show 25 years ago and current Mayor Harris who supports the show today, speak to us. We honored Helen Summers, Wendel Burt and Dick Nourse whom we lost this year. They will be greatly missed. We thanked our incredible sponsors, volunteers and heard from the Principal at Adelaide Elementary who helps get coats on to kids in need. We had an incredible turnout and are so grateful for the support over 25 years. This June 16-17th come have fun with us in Bountiful. It's all about the kids! | | |
Twelve Millcreek Rotarians and friends organized and filled gift bags of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, nail polish and more for the House of Hope clients for their Mothers Day luncheon. The clients are able to live, along with their children, at a House of Hope group home while they are working their way out of drug addiction. The House of Hope choir performed two touching songs that reflect that struggle and their successes. They were great! Our Rotarians donated over $700 in products along with their time to prepare the gift bags. Afterward, the volunteers enjoyed fellowship at a local restaurant. A wonderful evening all the way around. | | |
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The Ogden Rotary Club had the opportunity to recognize several outstanding high school seniors with cash scholarships at a recent luncheon. Each of these students have provided service to the community in various ways throughout their High School career.
Four of them were awarded the Service Above Self Scholarship, which is funded by our annual golf tournament. One of them was awarded the Lincoln Don Parkin Scholarship. Lincoln is a former Interact Club President at Weber High School who tragically passed away several years ago.
Congratulations to these amazing young people! We look forward to seeing the mark you make upon the world!.
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In May the Murray Rotary Club held the annual spring clean-up at the Murray Greenhouse Foundation! We had a great turnout. About a fourth of the workers were from our club. The rest came from the Union Park Relief Society (found us on JustServe.org), the Woman's Mission, and the Murray High School Interactors. We made a tremendous amount of progress. Jim Wilcox and Sargeant at Arms Lynne Westlake wrestled a huge stump grinding machine and dug out at least half a dozen stumps. We pulled weeds, planted shrubs, rolled out landscape felt, and move two huge mountains of topsoil and mulch. Our club surprised Sheila with a $1500 donation. She was very grateful for all the hard work and the donation. Our next opportunity to serve is Sunday, May 28th at Fill the Pot where we will be feeding the homeless. | | |
Park City Sunrise Rotary Club held their Spring Hazardous Waste Collection day on April 29. Located in a huge parking lot at Canyons Ski Resort, the event attracted 450 Summit County residents eager to keep contaminants out of the landfill. Sunrisers collected 16,092 lbs of old paint, 600 lbs of batteries, 30 lbs lightbulbs, 450 lbs household cleaners, 175 lbs pharmaceuticals, 4700 lbs electronic waste, 165 gal. gas, varnishes, solvents, stains, 898 lbs old gas, 630 lbs aerosols, 24 propane cylinders, 33 mattresses, 1730 lbs. oil. This event protects our mountain watersheds & downstream water supplies, and extends the life of the Summit County landfills. Sunrise partners with Recycle Utah of Park City, Park City Municipal, Summit County, and Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation to make sure hazardous waste is disposed of properly. | | |
The Park City Twilight Rotary gave A Million Thanks (amillionthanks.org) in May. A small note of appreciation can mean the world to someone serving our country far away from home. We spent time during our last Rotary meeting to all write some notes of appreciation to our military community. | | |
The Moab Rotary Club held our main annual fundraiser on April 29 in Swanny City park in Moab. We had over 200 cars driving into the park from early morning and thousands of onlookers coming from 8 am to 3 pm when we had the voting. Best of Show was the black with red interior 1956 Chevrolet Corvette. We raised around $20,000 for the Club to distribute over the coming year. | | |
On May 20, 2023, Orem-Lindon Rotarians donated and planted seven trees for Lindon City in a storm water catch basin in the Anderson Farms area. The trees were purchased through a matching grant with TreeUtah. Lindon City pre-dug the holes. Rotarians deepened the holes as needed, planted the trees, and watered them. 23 Rotarians and friends helped, including Dr. Rusty Butler, former VP of Utah Valley University, who contributed to the project, and expressed appreciation to the Rotarians for helping sponsor the UVU Rotaractors’ visit to the United Nations. | | |
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Richfield Rotarians Brent Thorne and Club President Shalon Hartle presented the “Small Club of the Year” banner, awarded at the District Conference to club members.
In addition this month, Richfield Rotarians helped plant 17 fruit trees and the Sevier County Community Garden located at the Central Utah Food Sharing facility in Richfield.
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Members of the Vernal Rotary Club's Literacy Committee presented Davis Elementary School with a $2,300 donation to purchase books for the school's book vending machine.
Davis “Dragons” receive a small prize when they turn in a paper signed by their parent or guardian that certifies they read for at least 100 minutes during the previous week.
Every Tuesday morning, Johnson draws 25 names from a large bin filled with the names of every student who has met the reading goal since the start of the school year. Those 25 students receive a token for the vending machine so that they can get a free book of their own.
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The Washington City Rotary Club received a presentation by the St. George Dinosaur Discover Museum Deputy Curator Jaleesa Buchwitz. They learned that a 12-year-old dinosaur expert might be leading on a tour of the 200 million-year-old ecosystem once home to dinosaurs, fishes and more. “People love talking to kids about dinosaurs,” told Rotary members. “These kids know a lot; they’ve read about dinosaurs since they were very young and love sharing what they’ve learned.” Local optometrist Dr. Sheldon Johnson was leveling a hill on his property in 2000 and came across a sandstone layer that contained thousands of dinosaur footprints. Funds were raised to build a museum which opened in 2005 to preserve not only the oldest Jurassic dinosaur site in Utah, but the best basal Jurassic track site in western North America. | | |
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June 2023
June 10 Induction of John Redd as District Governor 2023-2024
June 16-17 Bountiful “Coats for Kids” Car Show
July 2023
July 10 Deadline to Submit Data for Service Impact Report
September 2023
Sept. 9 Utah Rotary Day of Service
Sept. 11 All Clubs Dinner
October 2023
Oct. 24 World Polio Day
November 2023
Nov. 8-12 Zone Institute in San Diego
Coming in 2024
Friendship Exchange to Colombia
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy in Mt. Pleasant, UT.
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Lola Beatlebrox, District Newsletter Editor
Carolyn Brown, Cedar City Rotary Club
Diana Brown, West Jordan Rotary Club
Bruce Cole, Hurricane Valley Rotary Club
Dianne (Mattar) Detwiler, Millcreek Rotary Club
Tessa Douglas, Cedar City Rotary Club
Jauna DuPratt, Park City Twilight Rotary Club
Maura Hanrahan, Park City Twilight Rotary Club
Britta Kingsley, Moab Rotary Club
Alicia Maldonado, Washington City Rotary Club
Ryan Herath, Murray Rotary Club
Cheri McCurdy, Vernal Rotary Club
Rachel Palmer, Polio Plus Society Chair
Bruce Powell, Utah Rotary District Foundation Chair
Dean Robinson, Orem-Lindon Rotary Club
Linda Sappington, District Governor 2020-2021
Krista Simonsen, Bountiful Rotary Club
Jerry Summerhays, District International Service Chair
Kris Swanson, District Peace Chair
Alitha Thompson, Orem-Lindon Rotary Club
Brent Thorne, Richfield Rotary Club
Jose Velasco, Utah Rotary District Governor 2022-2023
Robin Wade, Ogden Rotary Club
Thanks for Making this Newsletter Possible
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